Located just a drive north of Belfast, the Antrim coast, anchored by the iconic Giant’s Causeway, makes the city an ideal starting point for a coastal day trip. Sitting roughly 60 miles (97km) away, the Giant’s Causeway lies along the same stretch as Carrick-a-Rede, Dunluce Castle, and the Glens of Antrim, making it easy to combine multiple highlights into a single day..
This guide outlines key details on distances, travel times, and reservation requirements to help you design a seamless itinerary. For those interested in exploring the region over a longer journey, explore our Ireland tours from Belfast.
In short:
- Anchor the day on the Giant’s Causeway. Plan the other stops around it and stay on one route.
- Pick one route, not everything. The Causeway Coast, the Glens of Antrim and The Gobbins each suit a separate day.
- Decide how you’ll travel. A car links the most stops, a train and bus reach the Causeway, and a guided tour takes care of the driving.
Table of Contents
- Day Trips from Belfast: At a Glance
- Is the Giant’s Causeway Worth the Day Trip from Belfast?
- Carrick-a-Rede and Ballintoy: What to Book Before You Go
- Dunluce Castle, Bushmills and the Dark Hedges
- What Are the Glens of Antrim, and Can You Visit Them in a Day?
- Can You Visit The Gobbins on a Day Trip from Belfast?
- How Do You Fit These Stops Into One Day from Belfast?
- Plan Your Day Trips from Belfast
- FAQs: Day Trips from Belfast
Day Trips from Belfast: At a Glance
In short, the places to visit near Belfast for a full day out are on the Antrim coast to the north. The table below sets out the distance to each of these Belfast day trips and what to book.
For ideas on spending an extra day within the city limits, take a look at our guide to what to see in Belfast. To explore further afield, browse our list of the best things to do in Northern Ireland.
What is the best day trip from Belfast?
The Antrim coast. The Giant’s Causeway anchors the route, and several other stops sit along the same coast, so one day can cover more than one of the day trips in Northern Ireland.
| Stop | Getting there from Belfast | Book ahead? |
| Giant’s Causeway | About 60 miles (97km), around 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Strongly recommended |
| Carrick-a-Rede | Around 15 minutes from the Causeway | Essential |
| Dunluce Castle | On the coast between Portballintrae and Portrush | Check opening times |
| Dark Hedges | Bregagh Road, near Stranocum | No |
| Glenariff Forest Park | Around 50 minutes | Check parking charges |
| The Gobbins | About 18 miles (29km), around 30 minutes | Essential, guided tours only |
Is the Giant’s Causeway Worth the Day Trip from Belfast?
Yes. A Giant’s Causeway day trip from Belfast takes you to a UNESCO World Heritage Site of some 40,000 basalt columns, formed by volcanic activity roughly 50 to 60 million years ago. It’s also a natural anchor for a Causeway Coast day.
How to Get to the Giant’s Causeway from Belfast
Day trips from Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway run by car, by train and bus, or with a guided tour.
- By car: a car lets you add Carrick-a-Rede, Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges to the same day. Driving is on the left, so allow extra time if you’re used to the right.
- By train and bus: take the train from Belfast to Coleraine, then a bus to the Causeway. Check the current timetable before you go.
- By guided tour: operators run Giant’s Causeway tours from Belfast, and some add Dunluce Castle or the Dark Hedges.
Tickets, Parking and What’s Included
The National Trust looks after the site, and Giant’s Causeway tickets come as a Visitor Experience from £16 for adults, £8 for children and £40 for a family. Pre-booking is strongly recommended. The ticket includes reserved on-site parking, the exhibition and an audio guide or guided tour, and National Trust members go free.
Walkers arriving along the Causeway Coast Way park at a separate car park, which costs £12 per vehicle.
How Long to Allow at the Stones
How long you stay depends on which of the four National Trust walking trails you choose:
- Blue Trail: the direct route to the stones, under a mile (1.28km).
- Green Trail: a clifftop trail of 2 miles (3.2km).
- Red Trail: a clifftop trail of between 0.8 and 2 miles (1.28 to 3.2km).
- Yellow Trail: 1.8 miles (2.88km) along the Causeway Coast Way, from Runkerry Head to Hamilton’s Seat.
Carrick-a-Rede and Ballintoy: What to Book Before You Go
The key thing to book ahead is Carrick-a-Rede. Ballintoy Harbour sits on the same stretch of coast.
Do You Need to Book the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge?
Yes, you need to book ahead to cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and that includes National Trust members. The bridge hangs almost 100ft above the Atlantic across a 20m chasm, and salmon fishermen first put up a bridge here in 1755.
From the car park it’s a 1km walk with steps and uneven ground, so wear sturdy shoes. Tickets start from £16 for adults.
Ballintoy Harbour
Fans of Game of Thrones will recognise Ballintoy Harbour as the iconic real-world setting for Lordsport Harbour on the Isle of Pyke, the ancestral seat of House Greyjoy. Beyond its famous television heritage, this picturesque harbor is a charming, active coastal spot complete with a quaint tearoom, stunning geological coastal formations, and expansive viewpoints looking out over the North Channel.
Our guide to Game of Thrones filming locations in Ireland lists the other places on screen.
Dunluce Castle, Bushmills and the Dark Hedges
Each of these three distinct locations serves as an ideal addition to a Causeway Coast itinerary, allowing visitors to tailor their journey with historical landmarks, local flavors, or iconic scenery.
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle sits dramatically on a steep basalt cliff edge along the North Antrim coast between Portballintrae and Portrush. With a history marked by dramatic coastal erosion and clan rivalries, it offers panoramic ocean views and extensive historical ruins to explore.
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, these dramatic ruins stood in as the digital foundation for Pyke, the stronghold of House Greyjoy on the Iron Islands.
Because seasonal operations and conservation work can affect site access, visitors should check the latest opening times and entry conditions before travelling.
Bushmills
The historic village of Bushmills is situated approximately 2 miles (3.2km) inland from the Giant’s Causeway, positioning it as an ideal and convenient rest stop during a day trip along the coast.
Famous worldwide for housing Old Bushmills Distillery, the town offers a charming mix of local cafes, pubs, and artisan shops, making it a well-placed sanctuary for lunch or tea between sightseeing destinations.
The Dark Hedges
The Dark Hedges is an evocative avenue of beech trees planted along Bregagh Road near Stranocum by the Stuart family around 1775 to impress visitors approaching their grand estate.
Over two centuries later, the entwined branches created an iconic atmosphere that was immortalised in Game of Thrones as the King’s Road. To protect the root systems of these centuries-old trees from vehicle damage and to preserve the experience for visitors, the avenue is now entirely pedestrianised, requiring travel on foot rather than driving down the stretch.
What Are the Glens of Antrim, and Can You Visit Them in a Day?
The Glens of Antrim are nine valleys on the County Antrim coast. You can visit them in a day, provided you choose one glen and the coast road rather than trying all nine.
Glenariff Forest Park
Glenariff, widely celebrated as the Queen of the Glens, spans over 1,000 hectares of diverse timber woodland, lakes, and conservation areas, making it an exceptional destination to anchor a full-day itinerary.
Situated roughly 50 minutes north of Belfast, Glenariff Forest Park features a network of well-maintained walking routes, including a short 1km viewpoint trail, a 3km Waterfall Walk, and an on-site tea house providing refreshments and panoramic views.
The renowned Waterfall Walk winds along a timber boardwalk built into the sheer gorge side, offering up-close views of cascading waterfalls.
Cushendun, Torr Head and Ballycastle
Continuing beyond Glenariff along the scenic Causeway Coastal Route leads to the historic coastal village of Cushendun, known for its distinctive whitewashed cottages, and the elevated promontory at Torr Head, which offers dramatic, sweeping vistas across the sea toward Scotland.
Further along the coast sits the bustling seaside market town of Ballycastle, serving as the departure terminal for the passenger ferry to Rathlin Island. Ballycastle also marks the overnight destination where our 5-Day Giant Ireland Getaway spends its first evening on tour.
Can You Visit The Gobbins on a Day Trip from Belfast?
While possible, visiting requires advance planning. The Gobbins cliff path on Islandmagee is a guided, three-hour walk, about 18 miles (29km) from Belfast, and it needs booking in advance, walking boots and a moderate level of fitness.
What to Know Before You Book
The key thing to book ahead is the tour itself. Here are its rules:
- Guided only: you walk a 3-mile (5km) path with a guide.
- Fitness: a moderate level is needed, and the steps add up to the equivalent of 50 flights of stairs, up and down.
- Age: adults must be 16 or over, and children must be over 4ft (1.2m) and accompanied by an adult.
- Footwear: walking boots are required, and trainers aren’t allowed.
- Season: tours run from March to early January.
Who The Gobbins It Suits
Who it suits: travellers and outdoor enthusiasts who are in good physical fitness and fully comfortable with tackling a high volume of steep steps, narrow ledges, and sustained climbing throughout the duration of the full guided cliff tour.
If strenuous physical activity or heights do not sound like a good fit for your itinerary, it is entirely fine to remove this stop; the remainder of the scenic Antrim coastline offers a wealth of breathtaking vistas, historic sites, and accessible walks that comfortably fill a full-day excursion without requiring this trek.
How Do You Fit These Stops Into One Day from Belfast?
Choose one route and keep it to three or four stops. Guided tours run six hours or more, so plan on a full day, however you travel.
Three Sample Days
Here’s how the day fits together:
| Day | Stops, in order | Book ahead |
| Causeway Coast | Carrick-a-Rede, Ballintoy Harbour, Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle | Carrick-a-Rede (essential), Giant’s Causeway (strongly recommended) |
| Glens and north coast | Glenariff Forest Park, Cushendun, Torr Head, Ballycastle | Check parking at Glenariff |
| The Gobbins | The Gobbins, then back to Belfast | The Gobbins (essential) |
Self-Drive, Public Transport or a Guided Tour?
Each way of travelling suits a different kind of day:
- Self-drive: the most flexible option for the Causeway Coast and the Glens, because you set the order and the pace.
- Public transport: the Causeway is the simplest stop to build around if you’re planning day trips from Belfast without a car, because the train and bus routes go to it.
- Guided tour: no driving and no planning, but the operator sets the stops.
Continuing from Coleraine to Derry by Train
Coleraine is also where the train to Derry begins. The journey takes around 40 minutes and follows the north coast, passing Castlerock and Downhill Beach and running below Mussenden Temple before it reaches Lough Foyle and the city.
It gives you a car-free way to add Derry to a Causeway Coast trip, although it makes for a longer day than the routes above. Check the current timetable before you travel, as services vary through the week. Our 5-Day Giant Ireland Getaway also continues from the Causeway Coast to Derry on day two, if you’d rather see the city with a guide.
Plan Your Day Trips from Belfast
In summary, focus on a single route for your day: select the Causeway Coast for the classic highlights, or opt for the Glens if you prefer a more leisurely pace. If Carrick-a-Rede or The Gobbins are part of your plans, secure your bookings first and design the remaining itinerary around those time slots.
For those who prefer exploring with a local guide, our small group tours of Ireland keep group sizes to a maximum of 16 guests, with departures guaranteed for as few as two travelers.
The 5-Day Giant Ireland Getaway travels from Dublin through Belfast to the Causeway Coast, visiting the Giant’s Causeway on day two.
Alternatively, the 6-Day Legends of the North & West features dedicated time along the Antrim Coast and the Giant’s Causeway. You can also design a custom itinerary focused on the destinations featured in this guide; we work directly with you so you don’t have to handle the planning alone.
Explore our full selection of tours featuring Belfast and the Antrim coast, or contact our team to start discussing your trip.
FAQs: Day Trips from Belfast
Do I need a UK ETA for a day trip in Northern Ireland?
Most visitors from visa-exempt countries, including the US and Canada, need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Northern Ireland. British and Irish citizens are exempt. Our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation for Northern Ireland has the current details.
Is the Giant’s Causeway accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes, in the main visitor areas. The Visitor Centre and the Green Trail are fully accessible, and there’s a Changing Places facility. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available to borrow at no extra charge, and at Carrick-a-Rede only the first 0.5km of the path is accessible.
Do I need pounds or euros in Northern Ireland?
You will use British pounds (GBP). Because Northern Ireland is a nation within the United Kingdom, sterling is the official legal tender, unlike the neighboring Republic of Ireland, which utilises the euro.
What is the best time of year for a Causeway Coast day trip?
The coastline at the Giant’s Causeway is open from dawn to dusk, so the length of the day decides how many stops you can fit in. Winter days are shorter, so choose two stops rather than four. Our guide to the best time of year to visit Ireland covers the seasons in more detail.
Are dogs allowed at the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede?
Yes, on leads. Dogs are welcome across the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site and in the Visitor Centre. At Carrick-a-Rede they’re welcome too, including in the tearoom, but not on the rope bridge.